Ooops! It's been...

...a while again hasn't it.
I've been hibernating. 
Ok, what's new? Well we're stating to plan our first open weekend of the year. All I can say at this stage is, clear your diary for the end of April.

A few things I had to battle with myself to let go.

These chairs and this cushion. Up side of this job; buying gorgeous things. Down side; saying goodbye to those gorgeous things when they sell. These are a case in point. Must be strong!

Hey, did you enter our competition? I'm so sorry that there can't be hundreds of winners, but lovely Clara who won was suitably thrilled and excited when we gave her the good news. Standby for more competitions - they're fun!

Finally, did you see the little booklet that came with the latest Country Living magazine? They used a picture of my bedroom. It looks very tidy. It doesn't always. What they don't show is the steady stream of slouching teenagers going through it on their way to use my en-suite bathroom, because "It's nearer". Grrrrrr! Pet hate no.678. I'm thinking of installing one of those turnstiles that you have to put 20p in to get in - like at Kings Cross station. That'll fox them!

Can you believe...

..that it's December next week? Nor me.
Whilst I haven't actually done very much yet in terms of preparations...OK, I admit, all I have done is buy three bags of chocolate balls in the shape of brussel sprouts for the children's stockings, but I have thought about things A LOT.
I have decided to go all soft and neutral with the decorations. I love our parchment coloured paper balls and hand-cut paper stars...

..and if no one buys this lovely white-washed dolly tub soon, it's coming home with me.

A few silver and gold bits mixed in with the cream and zinc will look lovely I think.

 See? Sorted. Just 70 odd presents to buy and wrap, three trolleys full of food to buy and prepare and a house to decorate! Don't know what all the fuss is about.

Looking back at...

...my first blog post of this year, my New Years resolution was to  "pay more attention to my blog, get fit, take better photographs and get less parking tickets." Well, I haven't had any parking tickets since then, so that's good isn't it.
In my defence, my excuse for wanton neglect of my blog is that time-wasting time portal also known as Instagram. If you haven't tried it, you must. Find us at @amandajknox. It's full of pretty pictures and nice friendly people.
This Friday is our Christmas open weekend - out last of the year. We've been busy filling the showroom with maximum festive sparkle, so do come and join us if you can.

There's always mince pies, lots of laughter and we usually crack out the Dolly Parton does Christmas CD. Worth a visit for that alone.

Who's coming to...

...our first open weekend of the year?
Open weekends are a huge amount of work. Mainly because I make such a mess everywhere, so setting them up is a major task.
This one has been brought to you by the power of tea, almonds and The Archers. I'm hooked. Where on earth is TOM?!

 Do come if you can. Annie will be here on the Friday, so expect loud laughter and some inappropriate language.

Do you remember...

...back in October, I talked of much tidying of bedrooms and buffing of surfaces going on at Knox Towers? Well the result is for all to see in the latest issue of Country Living magazine about to hit the shelves soon.

 
I hardly recognise the place without its usual smattering of lounging teenagers on every sofa, vast carpet of discarded shoes in the hallway and soggy towels on the bedroom/bathroom floors. So it's nice to have a record of how it could look in a life without teenagers.

As for the picture of me. Well I know the camera never lies/adds 10lbs, blah blah blah, but I'm SURE I'm not quite as spherical as I look. I blame my voluminous smock.
Oh, and don't be fooled by the sweet benign look on kitty's face. She was growling and wriggling with fury while I held her for the picture, the following frame she had sunk her claws in and flung herself, hissing crossly into the garden. She's a rescue. Once an alley cat, always an alley cat.

Ooops. Oh dear...

...is it really that long since I posted on here! My New Year's resolution is to pay more attention to my blog, get fit, take better photographs and get less parking tickets.
Fortunately, the lovely Monsiuer le P is a whizz with a camera and took the pictures of these frankly knee tremblingly gorgeous chairs.

If someone doesn't buy them soon, they may have to come home with me...

They remind me of something from a painting by the turn of the century, society artist Ethel Sands, whose work I abslutely love...

Always thought I was born at the wrong time. I've always wanted to write my letters in an eau de Nil morning room with glazed chintz sofas...

In other news; we will be making dates for open weekends soon. The first one will hopefully be at the end of March as long as the weather promises to behave.

10 out of...

...10 for sheer dedication from two of my oldest, loveliest customers Andrew and Jane. They'd said they were determined to be the first customers on the first day of our open weekend, and at bang on 10 o'clock I heard a commotion outside and saw this...

Ha ha! After that it was full steam ahead for a super busy weekend. There was lots of sparkle, lots of tissue filled carrier bags and an awful lot of laughing.

There were gorgeous roses on the counter and a gorgeous wreath on the door...

Every time I vow to take lots of pictures of the shop full of customers and the displays we've spent hours doing and every time I fail. There just never seems to be time. Those who came know what it looked like and a mahoosive thank you to everyone who did. You lovely people.

We're just putting...

...the finishing touches to the showroom, ready for our Christmas Open Weekend.

We've got loads of lovely gifts too...

...and of course lots of lovely vintage...

We hope you can come, as it's our last open weekend this year!

There was much...

...frenzied tidying, dusting and mop and bucket action at Knox Towers last week. The windows shone, the cushions were plumped, the candles twinkled and every cupboard had a warning to open slowly and stand well back in case of landslides. This preceded a visit from quite lovely people at Country Living Magazine.

The day itself was perfect. The sun shone, we drank tea, gossiped and laughed a lot. Oh, and Charlie took some pictures too.

I pretended that the children always kept their bedroom that tidy, the house was always filled to the brim with fresh flowers and scented candles always burned in every room. I was foolin' no one. They know me too well. Anyway, the result should be out sometime in the Spring.

Next job, Operation Christmas.
It's looking good.
Have you got the dates in your diary? Friday 8th - Sunday 10th November. See you there?

Ooops-a-daisy...

...is it really that long since I last put a post up here? The last post was all about our late summer Open Weekend, and now we're gearing up for the next one, and this time we're talking Christmas people! 8th, 9th and 10th November - put it in your diary, tell your friends, whatever - I've got a head full of sparkly ideas already!
Meanwhile, I am mostly in love with white...

...in all it's wonderful shades. Brilliant white, old white, chalk white, grey white, I love 'em all. Especially when you throw them all together.

I also met a lovely lady last week, making these. I think she is totally beautiful with her hand-embroidered vintage lace dress and her slightly nutty expression. I'd put a link in to contact the clever maker, but she's obviously better with a needle than she is with a computer and doesn't have a website. Who can blame her. I'm hoping she might make some for us to sell on the website though.

Just before someone...

...switched it from "summer" to "winter", we had a lovely open weekend.

There are even more pictures here

One of my dearest customers wasn't one to let the size of her car put her off a purchase.

Off she went with a large window mirror sticking out the roof of her little car!

Then, on the Sunday, we watched these rather impressive chaps parading through the village.

Another really lovely weekend, huge thanks to everyone who came. Keep your diary clear for the begininng of November for the next one, and we're talking Christmas!

We're open for...

 ...business this weekend. DO come and see us! Come and see all the pretty things, or just come and see the amusing sight of me getting a bit giddy due to tiredness and the general excitement of it all. Or if you come tomorrow (saturday) there will be lots of Paratroopers with big muscles around the village. That's definitely worth a look.